• Semester 1 (External)

Synopsis

Recent  social,  judicial and legislative changes concerned  with  the
treatment and care of people with disabilities have strongly supported
the  principles underpinning normalisation, mainstreaming  access  and
equity, social justice and the inclusive curriculum. As a result,  the
regular  class  teacher is called upon to accept direct responsibility
for  an increasing number of exceptional children and therefore  needs
to  acquire  additional knowledge and skills in order to  teach  these
children effectively in the classroom.

This unit briefly outlines the historical events which have shaped our
present  perceptions  of Special Education,  and  it  focuses  on  the
characteristics  and  problems of exceptional  children.  It  includes
definitions,   classification  and  an   outline   of   the   medical,
psychological and educational characteristics of children who  require
special  provision  in  education.  Methods of classroom  intervention
will also be reviewed.